Nationality: United StatesExecutive summary: Cold War advisor to JFK, LBJ

During World War II, William Bundy joined the Army Signal Corps and commanded the contingent of American codebreakers cracking German ciphers at Bletchley Park.

One of the chief architects of the Vietnam War and coauthor of the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, William served with younger brother McGeorge Bundy as foreign policy advisor to Presidents John F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson (1961-69).

According to Harvey Bundy -- John Kerry's roommate at Yale -- it was uncle William who finally convinced Kerry in 1966 to volunteer for service in Vietnam. According to Harvey, his uncle said: "We need you guys to serve. We need people of your caliber to serve if we're going to do this thing."

After leaving government, Bundy became a harsh critic of Nixon and Kissinger's handling of the Vietnam War.